Conquering Italy's Train System: A First-Timer's Guide

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How to use the Train in Sicily - Trenitalia App and Physical Ticket for Italy (YouTube link)

Train travel can be a great way to see Italy.  Trains run frequently, but with some delays.   

According to a study by Trenitalia, the national railway company, the average delay for long-distance trains is 15 minutes. For regional trains, the average delay is 20 minutes.

The high-speed trains service the major cities you’re likely to visit (like Florence and Venice), while slower intercity trains access secondary locations.  

Riding on high-speed intercity trains can be very fast.  With the journey time between Rome and Milan taking just under three hours and the time between Rome and Venice taking just under four hours.

Local trains serve cities such as Rome, allowing for quick transport through the entire area. Inter-city trains are the ideal way to create a tour with many stops such as Florence and Naples.

Fares can be cheap too, but to get the best prices you need to book your tickets far in advance. If you try to reserve on the day, then you might be left with a rather high price tag.

Figure 1.  Main Italy train routes

Italo Train System

The Italo fleet consists of modern, high-speed trains that can reach speeds of up to 360 km/h as they travel on Italy's major intercity routes. Currently, Italo operates three services: Turin-Salerno, Brescia-Naples and Venice-Salerno, with intermediate stops at Milan, Bologna, Florence and Rome among others.

Riding Trenitalia train from Rome to Florence to Venice and booking from italiarail.com (YouTube link)

Trenitalia Train System

Trenitalia (the Italian rail company) is an excellent way to get around Italy.  

Note that italiarail.com is an agency (see reviews) who offer more than 80,000 high-speed and regional train routes including: Eurostar, Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca InterCity & Eurocity, French TGV, German InterCity Express, Elipsos, Lyria and Eurail & Interrail Passes.

It connects virtually every major city and has tons of options (see [23] for more options), including:

• Frecciarossa (means "Red Arrow")
• Maximum speed 400 km/h (250 mph)
• Frecciargento (means "Silver Arrow")
• Maximum speed 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Frecciabianca  (means "White Arrow")
• Maximum speed 200 km/h (124 mph)

Trenitalia app

The Trenitalia app (Google Play / Apple Store) is a good option for booking train tickets in Italy. It is easy to use and has a wide range of features, including:

• The ability to search for trains and book tickets.
• The ability to view real-time train status updates.
• The ability to check in for your train.
• The ability to store your tickets in the app.
• The ability to redeem loyalty points.

The Trenitalia app has been praised for its user-friendly interface and its wide range of features. However, some users have reported that the app can be slow and unreliable at times.

Overall, the Trenitalia app is a good option for booking train tickets in Italy. However, it is important to be aware of its limitations before using it.

Figure 2.  A train route from Venice to Salerno

Figure 3.  Schedule Explorer shows the route from Venice to Salerno (Google Maps)

Google Maps

No doubt already installed on your phone, Google Maps will help you navigate around most cities easily. You can check walking distances and transit times by public transportation and car.^[22]

Using the train route from Venice to Salerno for the illustration (see Figure 2), Schedule Explorer (see Figure 3) is extremely useful for your trip planning.  For example, if you decide to choose the first choice

• If you leave Venice at 7:40 am, you will arrive Salerno at 15:12.  This trip option consists of 3 train rides:

which consists of 3 segments of train rides:

1. RV 3965
• RV stands for Regionale Veloce and operated by Trenitalia ()
2. Torino Porta Nuova - Bari Central
• Operated by Italo Treno ()
3. REG 4863 Battipaglia
• REG stands for Regionale and operated by Trenitalia ()

First Class vs Second Class

You can buy either first class or second class tickets. 

While Trenitalia provides two classes (First and Second Class) on most of their services, they actually offer four different classes on board their Frecciarossa high-speed services – Standard, Premium, Business and Frecciarossa Executive.

The amenities and features of trains vary quite a bit depending on the type of train you're taking. Some important differences are listed below:^[21]

• Second class cars are more crowded
• Second class seats are narrower than first class, and may even be bench-like seating on older or slower trains. 
• Second class cars are generally occupied by the majority of European travelers as well as backpacking tourists.
• Sometimes second class seats recline, but not always
• Less room for luggage storage on second class cars
• Not all second-class cars have end-of-car luggage racks, and many don't have any other in-car storage beside the overhead racks.
• Some trains only have second class seating
• Even if you are holding a first-class rail pass you'll be riding second class on those trains
• Not the same difference as the seating classes (1^st vs 2^nd) on an airplane
• Most high-speed trains in Italy, for instance, are air-conditioned, have wi-fi and have electrical outlets at each seat in all seating classes.
• However, the difference between the seating classes on trains in Europe is not as great as the difference between classes on an airplane. 
• Some rail companies have chosen names other than simply "first" or "second"
• You can typically figure out which of their unique names is "second" class by looking at the least expensive tickets, but when in doubt, ask.

Riding Frecciarossa from Venice to Rome (YouTube link)

References

1. 7 Most romantic hotels in Venice, Italy, for all budgets
2. Tips for a First-Time Visitor to Italy
3. Trento: The Loveliest Italian City You’ve Never Heard Of
4. 55 THINGS TO DO IN FLORENCE ITALY, BUCKET LIST EXPERIENCES
5. Where to Go in Italy in Winter
6. Where to Stay in Venice on A Budget
7. THE BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD (OUR 20 FAVORITE CITIES RANKED)
• 3 Florence, 13 Cortona, 19 Venice
8. Bergamo, Italy: 6 Reasons to Visit Milan’s Lesser-Known Neighbour
9. The ultimate guide of what to eat in Naples, Italy
10. Rome to Amalfi Coast Day Trip by Boat, Train or Car
11. Boat-Hopping On The Amalfi Coast: Day Trip from Rome
12. Amalfi Coast boat tour from Rome by high speed train
13. Positano Travel Guide (good)
14. The ultimate Amalfi Coast guide (good)
15. The best towns on the Amalfi Coast
16. Italy Transportation – Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips
17. The Best Way to Travel in Italy: Tips and Tricks from the Experts (good)
18. Transportation in Italy: What to Know
19. Italy Train Map
20. Train categories in Europe (good)
21. Train classes - Where do I sit on the train?
22. Best Travel Apps for Italy (good)
23. Categories and Types of Trains in Italy
24. 15 Europe winter city breaks
25. The 11 prettiest small towns in Italy
26. 2 Days in Milan: Things to do in Milan in 2 Days
    
27. Trenitalia Discount Cards
• Silver card—If you have reached the age of 60, you can purchase the Silver Card at the ticket offices or authorized travel agencies, presenting an identity document, at the price of 30 euros  and  valid for one year from the day of issue (for people who have reached  75 years  of age the Silver Card  is free) .
28. Trenord ()
• Trenord is a regional railway operator that serves the Lombardy region, which is home to Milan, Italy's largest city. The company operates a network of regional trains and suburban trains that connect cities and towns throughout the region.